Nano coatings: questions and answers
Find answers to your questions or contact us directly.
What is the nano effect?
Expressed correctly, the surfaces are hydrophobic (from the Greek hydros: water; phobos: fear), so water-repellent. Or lipophobic (from Greek lipos: fat), so grease repellent or oleophobic (from Latin oleum: oil), so oil repellent. The reason for this is the higher surface tension of the nanocoating than that of the materials it lies on. Thus, there is also the so-called anti-adhesion effect, an advantage that makes cleaning of the coated surface much easier.
At home nowadays coated Teflon pans or pots are in use – a classic example of applied chemistry (Teflon: trademark of DuPont, polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE). But also for textiles or shoes are those technologies known (GoreTex: trademark of W. L. Gore and Associates). There are no nano coatings, but the final effect is very similar. Have a look under the heading nanotechnology for more explanations.
Must be cleaned before coating a surface?
That nano-coatings can connect to the surface to be coated, it must be free of dirt. That sounds plausible, however: what means clean? Impurities can be obviously rough, so for example, bird droppings, lime, earth or moss. It is understandable that such contaminants must be removed. But they can also be more or less invisible: pollen, soot, grease and especially surfactants. Surfactants are broadly known as soaps, which are found in the most cleaning products. They create the solubility of various substances in water, such as fat.
But surfactants have the property to connect on a microscopic level with the surface of the cleaned object. They coat the tiny bumps with a film, which washes down after a short time. But: is this film on the surface, for example, a tile, the nano-particles can not connect to it. For the moment, the impression may arise that everything worked, but the nanosealing will be washed off within short time, together with the residues of surfactants.
So it is essential to give utmost attention to the preparation of the surface. However, this also results in a further conclusion: the best and the lasting effects are achieved when the surface is not prestressed. Specifically, when an object is restored or rebuilt. Over the years, it is always more expensive to remove all deposits and the economic benefits fades into the background. We therefore don't want to delude yourselves: talk to us and ask, before you decide on buying or applying a nanocoating.
Nanotechnology is powerful and can bring good results. But it must not always be the drug of choice in each individual case. We would like to provide a secure basis for your decisions and make recommendations – so you can be sure to have made the right decision. Fair and transparent.

When the nano effect can be observed?

The interlacing of the nanocoating to a protective lattice begins practically already during application. Because of the evaporating solvent, the molecules go into a stable bond with each other. Thus, the nano-effect can be observed relatively quickly. First results are usually visible after about a quarter of an hour. After about 24 hours at room temperature, the coating is completely cured.